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What’s Halloween without witches and pirates? Well, witches for sure, but in my household and neighborhood, Halloween means pirates, too. Check out this local house, all decorated as a spooky pirate scene. It’s really awesome lit up at night with fog machine and piratical music.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite costumes was a witch. I’m still fascinated by witchcraft, and would like to know more about it. I’ve also spent a Halloween or two dressed as a pirate wench.

I first combined witches and pirates when I wrote a steamy paranormal novella called Marooned. In doing my research, I came across the notion of banishing spells, and knew I’d found the catalyst for the story. I had a lot of fun writing the rhyming spells. However, banishing spells are not a good idea, as Heather learns to her peril.

Marooned
by Lyndi Lamont
Steamy Pirate Romance

Blurb:

Heather Parnell is traveling from England to her home in Jamaica with her new husband, Roger, a man she detests. She performs a banishing spell with unintended consequences. When their ship is attacked by pirates, Roger is killed. Heather, disguised as a boy, joins the pirate crew.

Pirate captain Adam Langworth suspects there is something odd about the new lad. When he discovers she is a woman, she begs him to keep her secret, a violation of the ships’ articles. When her identity is discovered, Adam and Heather find themselves marooned on a deserted island with nothing to do for the rest of their lives but make love.

In this excerpt, Heather makes the fateful decision to banish Roger and his mistress Kitty from her life when she learns they intend to kill her.

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She moved to the bow of the ship, where she could be alone. The wind was strong, blowing the hood of her cape back. The crescent moon shone above, sending a faint illumination on the white caps below her and the sails above. She lifted her head, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face, in her hair. She was never happier than when she was outside, surrounded by the elements. Away from the petty squabbles and schemes of people…

She stood still for several moments, basking in the moonlight, the sound of the waves as they slapped against the hull, and the force of the wind. She was heading home to her beloved Jamaica. This should be a joyous occasion, and would have been had she found the right man. She pushed away her regrets and as she paused, soaking in the loving energy of the goddess, her spirits lifted and hope filled her heart.

What she was about to do was not without its risks. Her mother had cautioned her to be careful what she asked for. A negative spell could go badly awry.

But what did she have to lose except her life? And life was uncertain, at best.

Decision made, Heather pulled the paper with the names of her tormentors from the pocket of her cape as she formed the incantation in her mind. When she was certain, she held up the paper, focused on the evil being planned, and whispered,

——

“Foul murder intended for me. Seek the pair who plan this deed. Banish them first, by magic’s decree! Send them from me. So mote it be!”

——

She repeated the words, her voice growing stronger with each recitation. When the power within her peaked, she tore the paper into shreds and let the wind tear it from her fingers. “Send them from me. So mote it be!”

Drained of all emotion, she clutched the rail and stared out to sea. Her spell had been cast.
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Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.

Tova Svensdottir, an earth mage, is on a mission to save her homeland, the Kingdom of Velosia from the evil wizard Bruno of Grimmdorn. Her grandmother tells her to seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg, but the old lord is dead. In his castle, high on a mountaintop, she instead encounters his son, the Outlaw Kane.

Kane fled Velosia after a futile attempt to rescue his father and his mate from Bruno’s cruel prison, killing the head guard in the process. Now that Bruno has been banished, Kane has returned to clear his name, but his purpose changes when he meets Tova. Tova’s warmth stirs his passions and her courage touches his heart, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. But Tova is made of sterner stuff.

Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia. If they survive the coming battle. But can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter?

Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.

Her grandmother’s words rang in Tova’s head as she climbed the path into the mountains. Why had Mutti Zee sent her out of her way on a fool’s errand? Everyone knew the dragonfolk had fled Velosia years ago, driven away by Bruno of Grimmdorn’s crusade against them. Until he’d been driven from power. Now Bruno had returned at the head of a mercenary army, if Mutti Zee’s vision could be believed. And Tova had no doubts. She’d felt the vibrations in the earth.

And somehow she was supposed to save the kingdom?

She raised her gaze to the sky and asked, “Why me? I’m no hero.” The heavens gave no answer, though she saw clouds form to her left. She shook her head. Now she was talking to herself, like mad Magnus, the village idiot.

She stopped to catch her breath and rest her tired legs in a level area. The path ahead grew steeper and narrower the higher it wound into the mountains. She groaned. After walking all day, her legs ached. She was glad she’d worn men’s breeches and a tunic with her sturdy boots. A gown and petticoats would be but a hindrance.

After a deep breath, she started to climb again. Dusk came early in autumn, and she needed to find shelter before dark. Castle Drakkenberg, abandoned and forlorn, perched high above on a cliff, its turrets silhouetted against the leaden sky. Almost as if mocking her with its remoteness. Too much was at stake and her chances of reaching the capital in time to warn the king were slim at best. Even without this detour, she estimated the journey to Castle Novita would take three days or more.

For centuries, the dragon lords had resided in the castle, ruling the isolated mountain communities. People in this area were known as dragonfolk, though Tova knew not why. A great puzzle, but one she had no time to ponder. With luck, she had but to find the dragonlord, and he would take charge of the quest.

A shadow blocked the sun, and she looked up at an enormous bird silhouetted against the sky. Goddess, she’d never seen such a large raptor. It turned and the sun’s rays glinted on its shiny red-gold wings and barbed tail. She stopped and stared after it, shaken to the core of her being.

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